Page 64 of Unguarded

The janitor is standing there, drool dripping from the corner of his broad grin. He’s shaking, eyes wide as he opens his mouth to speak.

His voice is barely a whisper. “Kitten is so perfect.”

24

CASH

Isip on the coffee cup in my hand while sliding the key card into Monroe’s door. I fell asleep on her sofa for a few hours. When I woke up, Duke was in the room, flirting with Ember, while Brooks was out grabbing lunch.

I left to stretch my legs, clear my head, and grab a quick shower in my and Duke’s room. He knows I’d make good on my many threats if he leaves Monroe’s suite before I get back. I only brought him because he’s a natural-born hunter. We’re not leaving until we catch this cocksucker and whoever’s helping him.

Once inside, I see Duke munching on a large cheese board with various meats, cheese, nuts, and dried fruits. I don’t recognize half of the stuff on it, but this is my first time in Switzerland. Ember must’ve gone to her room.

“She sleeping?”

“Yep. Haven’t heard a peep,” Duke says.

I look over. There’s a wall that blocks the view of her door from the main room. A janitor’s cleaning cart is parked rightoutside of it. The hotel employee in a navy uniform is finishing up mopping the hallways. I sip on my coffee, looking over at Duke as he lays back on the sofa, covering his eyes with his hat to take a nap.

Something has the hair on the back of my neck standing up.

“Where’s Brooks?”

“Sleeping. Ember said he was up most of the night.”

My brother slept on the plane, but we’re both jet-lagged. He gives up on attempting a nap, kicking his boots up on the coffee table and flipping through the channels.

The janitor moves away from Monroe’s door, replacing his mop in the cart. He slowly pushes it toward the door. I watch him walk toward the exit to leave.

“Did the doctor say it was okay for her to sleep this long?” Something is still gnawing at me.

“Ember checked in on her about an hour ago, and she was fine. Doc said, with a concussion, all we can do is wait it out.”

I move toward her room, turning the handle gently to avoid waking her. The sun has set, so the room is dark.

The bed is empty.

My stomach drops. I push into the room, peering around in the growing darkness. The bathroom door is open, but the light is off.

“Duke, get your ass in here.”

I step into the bathroom and flip the light on. My heart is thundering so loud in my ears that I can barely hear myself think. I walk through, looking around the white-and-black tiled bathroom.

She has to be in here.

“What’s wrong?” My brother speaks from behind me.

“Stay there.” I hold my hand up.

I go to the toilet room, knocking on the door. She could be getting sick again.

“Monroe?”

There’s no answer. I push it open and see that it’s empty.

“Cash,” Duke says.

I turn to see him standing in the shower, looking behind the half wall that covers the bench. He bends down. As I approach, I see her, huddled up in a tight ball beside the built-in bench. She has my hoodie pulled over her head. I left it on the bed for her before I went to shower.

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